Dark Promises

I strode through the hallway of the palace and headed straight to the throne room.

“Princess!” My maid called out to me, but I didn't turn, and neither did I spare a glance her way.

“Princess!” She hurried towards me. “My princess, your father forbade you from making an appearance today. You know the penalty for defying orders, don't you?” She said before a gasp left her mouth.

The sound of a slap can be heard in the otherwise silent hallway as my palm made contact with her cheeks.

“Since when did you learn to speak to me, like my mother?” I narrowed my eyes at her.

“Forgive me, my princess!” She cried out, taking a step back in fear.

“Scurry off, you stinky thing. Let me not see your disgusting face until I'm through."

Without a backward glance at her, I continued with my walk, towards the throne room.

My tight trousers clung to my body as I walked, and my shirt seemed to be riding up a bit.

But I don't care.

I'm Princess Star.

I fear no one.

I'm the terror others fear, and the bane of my brother's existence.

I'm the joy of my mother and the pain of my father.

Yes, that's who I am.

I'm princess Star.

No one loves me, but everyone loves me.

And I don't care.

I'm who I am.

“My princess!” A guard blocked my path and tried to stop me from entering the throne room.

“If you love those hands of yours, I won't advise you on what to do,” I glared at his hands that were yet to touch me.

“The king requested we shouldn't allow you in there, My princess. I'm afraid—”

I booted him.

He gasped both in surprise, and pain.

“Oh, this? I bought the shoes from a blacksmith. Do you love it?” I grinned.

“My princess,” Still in pain, he blocked my path and refused to take his stinky body off my way.

“I see you want me to continue, don't you?”

“My princess!” The second guard who was supposed to be guarding the other part of the throne door rushed forward when he heard the sound of pain from the fallen guard.

“Oh, two? This will be fun,” I stretched my taut muscles, “how do you want it? Together or separate?” I smirked.

“My princess, your father ordered us never to let you inside. He—”

“Together, then.”

I didn't give them a moment to decide on what they wanted to do with their life.

“Now, you know not to stop princess Star," I wiped my hands on their clothes, before I left them on the floor, gasping in pain at what they went through.

Not to boast or anything, but I'm stronger than 90 per cent of the males in this kingdom.

The remaining 10 per cent are for the children and the ones I've not had a duel with.

This is to tell you how much stronger I am.

I took a deep, steady breath before I opened the great doors of the throne room.

“Father, your precious daughter, is here," I said as I fully stepped into the throne room.

Father was speaking to a man who was dressed in the traditional regalia of princes from Meribom. 

The dark material has drawings of golden stars and Elephants on it.

Cowries were hung on the hem of the wrapper, and more stars were drawn around them.

The inner red garment he wore has drawings of Lions on it, and it can be seen because of how sheer the outer royal apparel was.

His apparel was unlike my father's, which seemed to scream respect.

“Star?” Father sounded surprised when he saw me, while the prince standing beside him looked like he had seen a ghost.

“No other princess, but your loving daughter, father," I closed the distance between us and knelt at his foot.

"My daughter,” he gently patted me on the back with his sceptre.

“Thank you, father,” I rose from my kneeling position.

“What are you doing here, Star? I instructed the guards to keep you out until I'm through with what I was doing.” Father sounded a bit worried.

“Guards?” I scoffed, “teaching them a lesson didn't take me more than a minute. They are lucky I didn't break any bones.”

The prince beside me inhaled sharply at my words. He looked like one who had seen a ghost. 

Spirits will be jealous of how white he is.

“Star!” Father shouted in a cautionary tone.

“What, father? Oh,” I placed my palm on my mouth, “I see. You don't want the new suitor to know how strong and ruthless his wife-to-be is?

Or—” I gasped once more, “don't tell me you are trying to convince him that all he has heard about me is nothing but rumours?”

“Star!” Father exclaimed.

“Oh, dear father. How can you expect me to keep my mouth shut when this dear prince is being lied to?" I took a step towards the fear-stricken prince. “It's a pity, my prince. As feeble and soft as you look, just a punch from me can break your bones. Don't you think you are signing up for a suicide mission? Oh! my—”

“Star!” Father rose from his throne.

“Oh, father!” I cried out, with my face showing nothing but pure innocence in them.

This was the exact expression that landed more than enough men on my feet, as victims.

“I'm only trying to tell him what to expect if he wants my hand in marriage. Don't you think he needs to know, father?” I 'innocently' blinked.

“Enough of your childish games. I'm not going to allow you to destroy your—”

“Pardon me, my king, but I need to leave," the prince said in an urgent tone, interrupting us. 

“What?” I dramatically placed my palm over my mouth, “and here I thought you succeeded in getting a mute husband for me?”

Father only glared at me before he turned to the prince, "listen to me, son. This is the way Star acts. She was born this way. Don't take any word she says, to heart." He lied through his teeth.